MIDDLEBURGH, NY, UNITED STATES

09.06.2011

Courtesy Story

MIDDLEBURGH, N.Y. - Fifty-five airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing began cleaning up flood damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene at Middleburgh High School Sept. 6.

The airmen, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, cleaned the school's track, outside basketball court, gym, parking lots, bus garage, the schools sewage treatment plant, and boiler room, on the first day of a two-day operation, said Lt. Col. Walt Wintsch, the officer in charge of the team.

"We have made a boatload of improvements here," Wintsch said.

Despite the hard work the airmen were enjoying what they were doing, Wintsch said.

"Several of them are from Schoharie County so it is in their own back yard, but we are all citizens of New York so it is gratifying to be down here to help [Middleburgh]," Wintsch said.

Along with specific projects the airmen moved through the school tearing out damaged sheetrock and scrubbing down walls, he said.

Since most of the classrooms are on the second and third floor of the school, the cleaning and sanitizing work done by the Air National Guard members will allow the school to open in a timely manner.

A flood almost six feet high went through the Schoharie Valley town on Aug. 28 as Tropical Storm Irene dumped rain on the hillsides.

The 109th Airlift Wing team will be back at the school Sept. 7 to finish the two-day project.